After an eventful weekend in Atlanta that featured both positives and negatives, the Nationals continue their road trip in Houston, where the Astros boast the majors' worst record and have lost 16 of 19. Quite simply, this is the kind of series the Nats have to win if they've truly made that all-important leap into the fringes of contention.

Davey Johnson fields his regular lineup, with Wilson Ramos back behind the plate after getting yesterday off and Laynce Nix in left field. He's also got an important bench piece back, with Jerry Hairston activated off the DL after missing three weeks with a fractured wrist.

The Astros send rookie Jordan Lyles (a promising right-hander) to the mound for his ninth career start. Lyles, a first-round pick in 2008, is still in search of his first big-league win.

I'm not on the rest of this road trip, but please keep the conversation going as always here…

Do you think if enough people emailed MASN this week they'd air the Vin Scully feed from the Dodgers games this weekend?Houston always gives me the heebie jeebies after the Berkman check swing incident. Hopefully our pitching can regain it's form a bit against their pitiful lineup. That short left field seems ripe for some Zim/Morse/Ramos dingers.

Mark always wondered can't you watch on TV like we do and put your commentary in? I know it is not from inside the stadium, but we would enjoy it.I noticed in all three match ups our starter has the better ERA.

As we have now fallen to 9 games back in the WC, unless they sweep the Stros and get lucky with some losses for the clubs above the Nats in the rankings (lot of moving pieces there), the talk should be about whom they move and whom they keep. They have all kinds of intesting pieces in which other clubs likely have interest. It is time for Rizzo to earn his keep. This is the time of year when a GM has a chance to make a move that can reshape a club's future. Be bold Mr. Rizzo!!

In 2010 (his rookie year) Ian Desmond hit .269. At the moment he has dropped to .226.Werth's career average is.265. He is currently hitting .213.Should Ian get a 7 year $126 million contract too?(Stats from Baseball-Reference.com)

Michael Bourn would be a great long-term center fielder for the Nationals. Since 2009, he's average .279 with a .350 on-base percentage and 60 steals. He's also won two straight Gold Gloves. The Astros need young players and Bourn, now 28, won't be around when the Astros again become competitive. And there is no question he's on the trade block.What would he cost? That's an interesting question. The Nationals seem willing to part with one of Drew Storen/Tyler Clippard but back-of-the-bullpen pitchers are the last thing a 100-loss team needs. It would probably take one of our young minor league starters, say Tom Milone or Brad Peacock, Derek Norris (who is now totally dispensable), a low-level prospect and either Tyler Moore or Bill Rhinehart. But they would also need a replacement in center, say Roger Bernadina.Bernadina, Milone and Derek Norris (plus one low-level prospect) for Bourn.I'd go for that kind of trade. Would you?

Farid, I wouldn't go near that trade. Firstly; Norris is having an off year but is still considered a prospect and at a prime position (not dispensable), Milone may very well turn out to be your no. 4 starter for years and Bernadina while not spectacular is not that far away from Bourn to merit that sort of trade. Not to mention the salary you would be adding.I would do: Meyers, Uery Perez and Destin Hood for Bourn.

I would love it if we got Bourn. Love it. Wouldn't mind paying with any prospects not named Harper or Peacock. I also wonder how much we could get for Desmond, who has turned it around at the plate recently. I like Desmond but wouldn't mind shipping him if it means we'd get a Ramos type or a couple big prospects, and still have Steve L in AAA.Go get Bourn Rizzo!

Not enough organizational depth at middle infield to trade Desmond unless they get another ss back. People get hurt. Guys get hurt; guys crap out; guys who hit .280 last year might hit .220 this year (and .280 again next year–just sayin, it happens). I like Jerry Hairston, but you don't want him at the top of your depth chart in your infield all year.

JD said… Farid,I wouldn't go near that trade. Firstly; Norris is having an off year but is still considered a prospect and at a prime position (not dispensable), Milone may very well turn out to be your no. 4 starter for years and Bernadina while not spectacular is not that far away from Bourn to merit that sort of trade.Not to mention the salary you would be adding.I would do: Meyers, Uery Perez and Destin Hood for Bourn. July 18, 2011 6:03 PM ___________________________I agree with JD. Bourn is a 1 year rental. He is a Free Agent after 2012 so unless you get him extended beforehand, forget giving up much.Also his .277 batting average with a .344 OBP away from Houston shows what it is like not hitting in a very hitter friendly park like Minute Maid and has to be part of the methodology in analyzing whether he makes a lot of sense.Bernadina is not far from Bourn's numbers on the batting average when you compare Bernie to Bourn's road numbers. The bigger issue this team has is fixing Werth, Stairs and Burnett. Take care of that before trying to go in the wrong direction.

Once more, with feeling:Pitcher A has a 4.51 career ERA, 99 wins and a career whip of 1.49.Pitcher B has a 4.53 career ERA, 103 wins and a career whip of 1.43.Pitcher A is Miguel Batista. Pitcher B is Jason Marquis.Don't be blinded by run support. This is who Marquis is. He is literally worse than mediocre. Do you honestly think Tom Milone couldn't do better than that?Deal Marquis for whatever you can get. Send the acquired scrub to Randy Tomlin and let him do his thing.Sec 3 — we do have enough depth to deal Desmond. Rendon is most valuable as an infielder. He'll wind up at 2b and Espy will be the shortstop.

Fixing Matt Stairs is not a big issue for this club, the guy is headed out to pasture. I think that they should not make a move for Bourn unless they can steal him, as the guy is kncoking on 30 (mid-season next year) and is not under control beyond next year. They can land a guy in FA that has good CF skills for 2012 — DeJesus, Patterson, Sizemore, Crisp — or try to work a deal for either a younger and/or higher up-side guy. Sending away a great arm under control for years to come in return for a year of Michael Bourn at something like $6M seems like a waste to me. dfh21

If I were GM somewhere else, I think I might offer some organization guy for Burnett now, on the off chance they take it. Whatever is wrong with him has to be mechanical–his command is off, or his concentration, but it's something that would be worth a shot if the pitching coach thinks he can do something (and if I knew exactly what it was and how to fix it, I wouldn't be doing what I do now for a living).But it's too soon to give up on this kid. I don't want him in a game with the lead right now, but I'm not convinced he's done.Stairs, alas, is well done. Nice career, man, but it's done. Don't do a Lefty. (That was sadder than watching Clemens testify.)Werth, OTOH … all last winter we heard from stats guys saying Livo would regress to career norms. As Cool Hand Luke once said, "Where are you NOW?"

I too think the middle-infield depth is good enough to trade Desmond. Espinosa could be a near Gold Glove shortstop with a .250-25-90, 25 steal offense. Stephen Lombardozzi has, in four minor league seasons, averaged .301/.372/.439 with 20 steals. His defense is phenomenal. In 89 games this year, he has made just two errors.Wilson Ramos, Lombardozzi, Espinosa and Bourn make a solid up-the-middle defensive team with potentially explosive offense (I think Ramos will be a .275-22-75 hitter very soon). Yes, I know Bourn can walk in two years, but he's the type of guy worth a big contract. And I think a lot of these guys would love to play with Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and (I pray every day) Matt Purke.I live in Idaho and saw Purke pitch against BYU. The guy is lights-out when he's healthy.

Livo has looked awful his last 2 times out and his ERA is about a half run higher right now than where he ended last year, I would not go crowing about him beating predictions until we see where the chips for the season fall.

I will be impressed if Rizzo can get the Astros to take Henry Rodriguez and Corey Brown for Michael Bourn.For all those who loved the Josh Willingham trade should think this would work.I am mostly being facetious because no way Ed Wade takes that deal.

Regarding Worth, I was worried that he would hit .270-20-80 and the baseball world would mock the Nationals for paying him that crazy contract.I'd give almost anything to see him finish around those numbers now.I do think, though, that he'll have a hot second half and end up around .255-23-70 give or take. And his defense returns, that's good enough. If he can average .280-20-80 for the next three years, then I can live with whatever he produces in his late 30's.But what I'm really curious about is what the team will do at first next year. If LaRoche is healthy, his career numbers promise a .260-22-80 or so year with excellent defense. Put Morse back in left for a year and that's a pretty good tandem.

Farid, I think/hope Werth is having Cristian Guzman's 2005 season, and will eventually settle down, but his 2011 is already toast. In cooking, there are a lot of mistakes a clever cook can fix, but once something is burnt, there's no saving it. Give it a fancy French name and call it Blackened Cajun Whatever and hope the punters go for it, but it is what it is.

Regarding Josh Willingham's trade, he's hitting .244-12-46 for Oakland (vs. Laynce Nix @ .274-12-33). Corey Brown wasn't the player I thought he was, but in essence they god Nix and H-Rod for Josh, who will be a free agent after this season.

Rendon doesn't count.Really?Jim Callis of Baseball America said this on July 11:"Rendon, whom I believe is the best player in the draft, is a comparable hitter to Lawrie and a better defender at third base (though he'll probably have to move because the Nationals already have Ryan Zimmerman)."Hmmmm. Let's see. Where might Rendon move?

Let's try that again:As I said, a college kid who isn't signed yet, coming off an injury that caused five other teams who could really use him to pass.There's a reason they call it "fishing," and there's a reason they're called "prospects."

hope the punters go for it, but it is what it is. July 18, 2011 6:50 PM Farid Rushdi said… Regarding Josh Willingham's trade, he's hitting .244-12-46 for Oakland (vs. Laynce Nix @ .274-12-33). Corey Brown wasn't the player I thought he was, but in essence they god Nix and H-Rod for Josh, who will be a free agent after this season. July 18, 2011 6:51 PM_________________________Sorry, Farid, the trade was Corey Brown and HenRod for Willingham not Nix and HenRod for Willingham. Can't inter-change pieces like that.

Tim, I wondered that myself a while back. Of course, I've wondered that about everybody ever since then.What if they decided they didn't want Bourn because he wasn't hard-nosed enough, too easy-going? headline would be Rizzo: Bourn 'too loose'I'll be here all week. Try the veal! Please!

Gonat –Oh no no, in no way did I mean to suggest that the trade could be seen in a better light because we got Nix for nothing.Turns out it was a terrible trade. All I meant was that because we lucked out with Nix, we didn't lose any offense because of it.Corey Brown probably won't be around after this year.

Farid, oh ok. I believed Josh didn't fit in due to the fact you couldn't count on him for 150 games a year. Josh was great April to June 15th last year and his numbers this year are good considering he missed over 20 games so far. On 162 games he projects at over 100 RBIs.Nix was a pleasant surprise and hope we get some more of what he did in May 2011.

I am not sure why people keep panning the Willingham trade. Allstar Tyler Clippard – .6 WAR, HRod – .5 WAR (in less innings). Granted, he is still learning to command his stuff, and I would go with Clip right now in a tight situation, but they are not as far apart as it might seem. Plus, he has absolutely sick stuff, and 5 years of control left.As for CF, they really ought to go after Denard Span. Top 3 defensive CF and under control through 2015, I think. Bourjos is a little better defensively, but not as good a hitter. And I checked, the Twins have something like 1,200 OF prospects so he should be available if the right offer is made. They need a SS, and would probably be attracted to a package built around Desi. I like Desi, but CF is a black hole organizationally and you have to make that swap if you can get it.I don't see how you get a SS back, though. I mean, its kind of the point behind Desi having value, isn't it?

How about Clippard and Coffey to the Cards for Rasmus and some minor leaguer to be named later. Cards can make a run with a real bull pen (and Clippard is under control for some time going forward) and the Nats get a youg upside CF under team control for a few years.dfh21

We're only deep at MI, because Desi's at SS. Trade him, and we have nobody to pair with Espy. Nobody. 3 prospects-two of whom look very good on the high minors, but no guarantee either of them will be as good as Desi is right now. Rendon has all the talent in the world, but we don't KNOW that he'll ever take a ML AB. Desi is a Big League SS… Right now. Plus glove, plus arm, plis range, plus on the basepaths, offense coming around… You could only trade him for somebody proven, who you feel will start here for 10 years. Because that's who he is…

I'd go for that kind of trade. Would you?No Farid I wouldn't. It would cost too much in prospects for a 28 year old. Not after drafting a guy in the 1st round in Brian Goodwin. Add to that Bernadina's performance (he's younger). He is another slap hitter speed guy. NO JUST SAY NO. They've tried Morgan, even Jorge Padilla. And now Bernadina. NO. I strongly believe BJ Upton with his higher ceiling (he hits for power) and local connections and roots at the same age is a far better bargain for a right handed hitter. Is he the leadoff hitter? Perhaps not but I think I would prefer him in center at a much reduced price in future prospects.The price the Astros would ask would be one that I would only be willing to pay for Peter Bourjous who is a lot younger, better, has more speed and projects better ceiling wise.Say NO to Michael Bourn. Don't PAY Bourjous prices for what could be another Morgan. He's NOT worth it.

Werth, OTOH … all last winter we heard from stats guys saying Livo would regress to career norms. As Cool Hand Luke once said, "Where are you NOW?"Uhhh sec3 Livo IS DEFINITELY regressing dude? So, yes they were right. I expect it will continue. Right now he has a worse stat line than all of the other starters. He's a sixth starter/long man/mop-up guy at best. Not an ace #1 starter which is where Johnson placed him out of the break. He is not anywhere near that … Last year was heroic. It truly was. But Livo is done.

Desmond may be playing himself into oblivion. The kid has looked much better of late, so maybe he's getting it together. But at this point, he is a long shot to be a quality every day SS in the bigs. Iffy glove, lousy bat, not very young.The Nats will have a shot at a bunch of mid-30's guys on one year deals in 2012, guys who can make the plays and hit around .250 if nothing else — or they could throw a bunch of money at Jose Reyes or at Jimmy Rollins to keep that over-pay for FA Phillies thing going, if they want to. There is no need to keep middle infield dpeth at this point. So, if they can move Demsond for something else they need, then they should be considering it. dfh21

8:05, you missed the point, clean whiff.WERTH. Werth should be regressing (that is, returning, in the statistical sense) back to his career norms, but I don't hear a lot of that around here.We now return to the game. Thanks.

We're only deep at MI, because Desi's at SS. Trade him, and we have nobody to pair with Espy. Nobody. Yes two maybes and a potential All Star in the bush as it were.However, what do you say if you were offered Jimmy Shields and BJ Upton and a part of the deal was Desmond? I think you have to take that deal.

anon 8:02: Bixler has picked up so much bench time since his promotion that his 2011 numbers are worth about as much as Hague's numbers w/POT. Maybe he'll replace Bynum or Hulett on the SYR roster, but he doesn't project strength at a MI position, imo.

dfh, with all due respect, Desmond is a quality MLB ss now. The errors are clearly behind him, he still has plus range, and a good arm. If this turns out to be just an off year at the plate, he'll be good for a long time. I think you're selling him short.

Enough trade talk – we're underway with 1-2-3 innings for both pitchers in the first. Marquis' sinker looks good with 3 grounders – Morse made a good pick on Desmond's and the Z-Man made two good throws from 3rd. In other news, Werth struck out on 3 pitches.

And once again, the Nationals are taking the opponent's weakest pitcher (Jordan Lyles, looking for his first career win) and turning him into Cy Young. 9 in a row. Time to roll out the jinx – he has a PERFECT GAME through 3 innings – did you hear me baseball gods?

When I typed it he was pitching. By the time I could read the stupid captcha it was the next inning.Meatball by Marquis in the 3rd to Corporan (the #8 hitter, now batting .192) for a single and the Astros' first hit. Lyles bunts him over to second. Marquis strikes out Bourn and Sanchez to get out of the inning.

Sec3 — I may be selling Desmond short but he is making it easy for me to think that he's not gonna make it, and there are guys out there who can play that the club can grab for 2012 and beyond. Desmond has never fielded his position well at any level. His range and arm are overrated as he does not make the plays he should make when the ball is hit right to him (how he can have great range and a lousy fileding percentage is a problem). Ichiro would likely have some great range there too, but there are reasons he does not play SS. Desmond had moments of greatness in 2009, followed by a nice, yet not spectacular, year at the plate 2010. Over his career at all levels he runs out there at less than a .700 OPS — he has never dominated — and he's gonna be 26 this fall. All those K's with no power. And in my eyes at least, when the game is on the line, he looks lost in the field and he swings 3-0 late in the game when the club needs a base runner and such. He is a very nice athlete, but the jury is still out in my mind as to whether the guy can play every day in the bigs. He does not hit enough to justify the iffy glove and he's had a lot of opportunity to get it all together at this point and he has never really been able to do it all at once, ever. So, maybe I'd be wrong to let the guy go, but if Desmond was getting it done, then I would not be thinking that the club should consider selling the guy.dfh21

I have had a bad feeling about this game all day – EVERY one has been yapping about how bad the Astros are and how this guy has never won a game – yadda, yadda, yadda, – the baseball gods just hate it when you do that! Somebody, please hit the ball!!!!

Seriously, why would a team have sooo much trouble with rookies, and then light up Roy Halladay (not every time, but you know what I mean). Is it because they have lots of video of established pitchers, but not the rookies, so they don't have a good plan for the at-bats? Over-reliance on the science? Thinking too much? It pre-dates Eckstein.

anon 8:05: Livo is 2nd on the staff with 11 quality starts in 20 chances, and about in-line with his 2010 results. That's 2nd to JZimm (14/18) this year, and ahead of everybody else on staff to date. If you look at IP/GS/QS for all starters, the rank is 1-JZimm (6.39, 18GS/115IP, 14QS), 2-Livo (6.27, 20GS/125.3IP, 11QS), 3-Marquis (5.93, 18GS/106.7IP, 9QS), 4-Lannan (5.72, 20GS, 9QS), 5-Gorzellany (5.69, 14GS/79.7IP, 6QS), NR-Detwiler (5.33, 1GS/5.33IP, 0QS), NR-Maya (4.92, 4GS/19.67IP, 1QS). If DJ is looking for a pitcher to move into a LR/6th starter role alongside Detwiler, either Maya or Stammen could fit the bill. It would just be a question of who moves off the 25-man roster to make room.

Marquis gives up a leadoff double to Michaels and then an RBI double to Corporan (after a lineout by Johnson). Have to wonder why he's throwing anything near the plate with first base open and the pitcher on deck. Game tied 1-1.

They look over-anxious to me–not waiting for their pitch, not waiting on off-speed stuff, not staying back to ID curve balls when this guy has mostly not been overpowering anybody.They need Robert Fick in there giving somebody a hotfoot.

Anonymous8, I would still nibble around the outer edges, walk him if necessary, and throw sinkers to Lyles for the double play.Davey Johnson calls me all the time and tells me how run the Navy (well, at least my part). Fair is fair.

Ah yes, Robert Fick. I will never forget accompanying a couple teacher-colleagues from Germany to RFK. When Fick was announced late in the game, much giggling and embarrassment ensued.(Fick is a rude word auf Deutsch.)

My recap so far — nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing – followed by nothing. HOME RUN! double, double, double……nothing. Anyway – I blame Ray Knight for the over-the-top gushing about how bad the Astros are. Really Nats – one hit? I think the speed that the pitcher is working has really rattled our hitters for one thing. I hope Marquis still has some gas because apparently our bullpen is just devastated after playing just 3 games after the allstar break, none of which went to extra innings, by the way. 8 runs yesterday against an all star pitcher, not much of anything tonight against a rookie with no wins. Welcome to Natstown.

Morse singles up the middle. And Werth – looks at a first pitch fastball for a strike. Watches one low and outside for ball one. Tries to check his swing on a high fastball but fails for strike two. Fouls off an inside pitch. Lays off a high fastball for ball two. Reaches for what may have been ball three and flies out to right. Too close to take with two strikes. Didn't look as bad as he has, but still doesn't understand that the entire league knows they can groove a fastball on the first pitch and he'll watch it go by for strike one.

Just like yesterday's game, you have a young pitcher who is in trouble. HR to Zim, hard hit single up the middle and 1 out and up comes the #5 hitter to the plate with Morse on 1st.Werth just can't handle the situation. Werth gets in a 2 strike count and then put on a weak swing. Can someone please tell me why Werth is BATTING #5? WHY?????

Three groundouts to short in the bottom of the 7th. Marquis working nicely against the bottom of the order this time. Onto the 8th.Dave, even major league pitchers make "mistake" pitches every now and then. In this case, it's anything not right down the middle on the first pitch to Werth.SO I actually did some digging and found an article that lays it out pretty well. If my quick scan got the info correctly, Werth is third from the bottom in the majors at swinging at first pitch fastballs (11.3%). If it's in the strike zone, he's next to last (17.9%). Ouside the zone, he's fourth from bottom (3.3%) – I guess that's good, at least.But get this – the article is from 2009. January of 2009. Two full seasons before Rizzo signed him. You can read it here.While I did that, the Nats went 1-2-3 in the 8th and Marquis gave up a leadoff single to Bourn, who was bunted over to second. You may now start asking to trade for him again.

Zimmerman watches a fastball for strike one, swings over an inside sinker for strike two, fouls off another sinker, pops a high fastball straight back, watches one inside for ball one, and POKES ONE THROUGHT THE RIGHT SIDE for an RBI single! 3-2 Nats.Great at-bat. Hope Jayson was watching!

Anon8 – I was thinking the same thing even when they got to 2 strikes on Zim.With 1st base open and Werth-cant-hit in the #5, that is like walking the #8 to get to the pitcher. That is why the Astros are so bad.

Hate to post before its over but nice job by Marquis.I have already stated my thoughts on Desmond but he is 25 so not old by any sense, he has improved his defense immensely and I do not see why it won't continue to improve, Espinosa is playing great at second so why would you move two positions that are doing well defensively? Good thing is that both Rizzo and Davey have praised him so I don't see them relying on Nats Insider for hints in building the franchise.Well, we can now scratch good base running from the few things that Jason Werth was doing. Not sure what he was thinking there and the obvious point is, he wasn't thinking. Just have to hope they don't hit the ball to right field in the 9th.Hopefully a good win but we still need 3 outs. Here comes Storen

Sec 3, My Sofa said… Why would he be sliding? He was standing on third when the ball got there. July 18, 2011 10:29 PM Really, the play was behind him and he went in standing up and his momentum almost took him off the bag.

Wow, Werth is trying so hard to do something because he's doing everything wrong. Its that feeling of when you've made a mistake, you're trying so hard not ot make another one and thats exactly what you do.

Also wanted to post my thoughts on CF. There was lots of excellent data supplied and lots of people made good sense on lots of different players.I am now of the thought that we keep Bernadina for the remainder of this season. He is younger than Bourne, still has an upside and is still learning how to hit first and play CF. If someone makes us an offer for one of the young CF's out there and it does not rob us for the future then I think that will be ok but knowing Rizzo he will need an offer that knocks him out. Nats Win!!

@Sec 3, My Sofa, I remember that call. Was anyone listening to Charlie and Dave tonight? What was their call of the Jayson Werth double play? For those of you who didn't hear the original, you can relive it in all its priceless glory right here.

The Nats won which was great, and just to 2nd guess one thing, why didn't Davey bring in Detwiler for the 8th? It worked out for Marquis so don't get me wrong. That leadoff single on the 3 ball count to Bourn I thought was going to be the straw that broke the camel's back.Detwiler and Storen were really the only 2 that weren't part of the walking wounded in the pen.

The more I watch Storen the more impressed I am by him. Most closers are older and much more experienced. He is just so poised and calm in a very high-pressure job. He also seems extremely bright( Stanford) and articulate. He looks young and not at all intimidating, but that is just so deceptive as many a batter has discovered. It just makes you proud to be a Nats fan when you see players like him.

If I am Davey, here's how I handle tomorrow to keep JZim fresh. I tell him you only get 6 innings unless you are throwing a no-hitter. Then Detwiler comes in for 2 innings and Storen to finish the game.

Sec 3, LMAO. Oh yes and it was the 4th inning when Riggles pulled him.Before Riggleman saw what happened in the top of the 5th, he yanks him immediately at the end of the 4th. Rookie mistake by Riggleman not to see what would transpire. On a 1 run lead as shakey as Marquis looked that day, if it stayed that way after the top of the 5th, Riggleman should have pulled him then. Instead, Nats score 6 runs in the top of the 5th to take it to 7 runs and cost Marquis a W. I think it is Marquis fire that gets these guys going. He is the type of guy over his career that his teams score for and get wins.

Man, I'll take Jason Lyles on my team any day. That kid will be tough if they don't keep leaving him in for over a hundred pitches. Not bad for a 20 year old kid. What a rip by Morse! As to Jason Werth, Son, I think that you need an exorcist. Wow, what a bonehead move that was, or were you trying to make up for not hitting into a double play, and showing us all a new way to get yourself into one?,

Gonat: has everyone forgotten that Todd Coffey was and has pitched pretty well the last few weeks but for some reason he has not thrown in four games? Detwiler was also fresh but Coffey would have been my choice. Agreed that everyone else was used up yesterday but what is the deal with Coffey??Zimmnn will only go 6 or 7 tomorrow but hopefully we will have a nice lead and Davey can mix and match since everyone should be available.

sjm308 said… Gonat: has everyone forgotten that Todd Coffey was and has pitched pretty well the last few weeks but for some reason he has not thrown in four games? Detwiler was also fresh but Coffey would have been my choice. Agreed that everyone else was used up yesterday but what is the deal with Coffey??Zimmnn will only go 6 or 7 tomorrow but hopefully we will have a nice lead and Davey can mix and match since everyone should be available. July 18, 2011 11:06 PM____________________________Someone said that Coffey was banged up so something is up with that. I see your other comment that Davey said he was available.

It's amazing that the three winning runs were scored because of fielder positioning.The game-winning hit was because the 2d baseman was holding Bernadina on too close, and he didn't get back to the gap fast enough.The next two runs scores on a bouncer that would have been an easy play for the first baseman, except with the infield in, it bounced over his head.But — we'll take it!A really superb game by Marquis and Storen.

If you haven't seen Kilgore's interview with Rizzo this evening, it ends with the following two graphs:“You always trade from depth and strength,” Rizzo said. “We feel that we’ve put together some depth at certain positions.”One example: With middle infielder Stephen Lombardozzi playing well at Class AAA Syracuse, and infielder Anthony Rendon having been drafted with the sixth overall pick this year, the Nationals could be more willing to part with shortstop Ian Desmond.(Yes, Desmond made a dandy throw tonight. That's great. I'm just saying that Lombo and Rendon are both fine fielders, and Rendon will be a much better hitter.)As for Marquis, of course I'm glad that he pitched well tonight, that the Nats won and that Marquis dropped his career ERA from 4.53 to 4.52.To paraphrase that famed scout, Popeye, they am who they am.P.S. Bad night down on the farm. Robbie Ray gave up 3 ER and 4 walks in 2.3 innings.Harper dropped sub-Mendoza at .194. Some poor sap is going to get hurt when he breaks out.Prediction: Harper breaks out this weekend in Richmond. Harrisburg is coming to town Thursday-Sunday for SIX games, including doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

The only criticism I have heard about Lombardozzi is that he does not have a decent arm to play SS or 3rd so he can't fill the utility role. I am guessing they will sign Rendon at the deadline (wish it were sooner) and if he is as good as people say we would have great depth along with Antonelli who has actually put up numbers as good as Lombardozzi and can play 3 positions. Seems to me you try and move one of the two minor leaguers now in some sort of package, then let Rendon show us what he can do in Arizona and spring training and only then do you think about moving Danny to SS. I do see that Desmond is not hitting but again, leave them alone for the rest of this year, not so Danny can win ROY but because you just don't want to make two switches this late in the season. These guys know their pitchers, they know where to line up for different hitters, they make the double play, they know who is the cutoff man, etc. I am not saying the new guys won't, its just silly to change now when we are having the best season since 2005. Just my opinion and I will stick with it as I play in traffic with no brain.

sjm308 – well, most of the extra comments were probably the running play by play since Mark Z. took the night off. But much appreciated by those without radio or TV covergae. For instance, here's the ESPN description of the Werth baserunning blunder – "W Ramos popped out to shortstop, J Werth tagged out at home." Leaves a little to be desired!

We just have to keep the gas pedal on. The Mets and Fish are playing each other. Without actually checking stats – it looks like our runs per game might be inching up. Now if we can just keep the pitching going….. Is there an off day on Thursday? Late, late games coming up, too. Even more than winning, this team needs to be clicking on all cylinders when they come home and face the nl east.

Drew8 said… If you haven't seen Kilgore's interview with Rizzo this evening, it ends with the following two graphs:“You always trade from depth and strength,” Rizzo said. “We feel that we’ve put together some depth at certain positions.”______________________________________Proof that Rizzo read the criticsm thrown at him here. LOL Depth? Can he define that? I see a team so thin that when a player goes down, the replacement is a big downgrade.From strength? Giving away Willingham for a 4.55 ERA reliever and a AA outfielder was strength? Giving away Milwaukee's newest best Nyjer Morgan for a career minor leaguer Cutter Dykstra was strength? Giving away Alberto Gonzalez for a A ball pitcher was strength? Proposing Jordan Zimmermann, Danny Espinosa and Drew Storen for Zach Greinke was strength?The way Rizzo trades without Kasten overseeing is not strength, it looks like he doesn't know what he is doing.Rizzo's job isn't to make trades for the sake of making trades and making other teams better. The Nats need sure things in trades. Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen are sure things.BJ Upton is not a sure thing. His boxscore last night of 3 K's and hitting into a double play and batting .236 is better than Werth but not an upgrade. Michael Bourn is a slight upgrade over Roger Bernadina until you look into the numbers away from Minute Maid where his numbers are very similar to Bernadina's.Again, Rizzo, don't make a trade for the sake of making a trade.

Marquis is making $7.5 mil this year. He's not even a class B free agent, so if/when he leaves at the end of this season, we get nothing in return. So, of course, everyone is eager to trade him, assuming he would ask for a 3-4 year deal which from us he will not get. However, he's said likes it here. I bet he would not mind being in a rotation with Strass and JZimm'nn, heading up. I say, Rizz, offer him 2 years. He might take it, you never know. People, there is nothing you, me, or the lamppost can do about Werth, and all the complaining in the world won't solve him. We (fans) moaned about GasCanrahan and Nyjer, and look where they are now. (OK, I didn't moan about Nyjer). Every team has someone not holding up their end, believe me, just look at their boards. Thanks, folks, for remembering Nook Logan and his being caught off third to end a game? It could be worse. This could be 2009. I say, just ignore Werth til things get better for him and in the meantime, we are the designated .500 team for MLB, so — savor it!!

The folks who last night were urging Mark to post game updates from home need to get a little perspective. This isn't the man's hobby. It's his job.Why should he follow up his day's work by working at home for three more hours to amuse us? Wouldn't you consider that unreasonable?Bill Lumbergh: Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ahh, I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too… (And don't forget the cover sheet on your TPS reports.)

baseballswami — yeah, runs are getting better. Unfortunately, we had the two big losses (10-9) and (9-8). What we need to look at is run differential, is that creeping up? We had that 11-1 against us, but aside from that we've had close games, even some 3 run laughers. HATE THE FISH HATE THE FISH HATE THE FISH.

P.S. I will miss the boys this weekend, but can you believe their luck being in LA with the heat coming here??? Great scheduling job!! Also we got homestands for all three holiday weekends…Did you see what happened to Doc? I am so glad our guys will not be on the mound with 112 degree heat index.

NatsLady, 2 years to Marquis would make sense as he is a winner here. Rizzo patting himself on his back is laughable. Trader Joe's he is not. Obviously if you can't extend Marquis you have to trade him for quality but don't give him away for another Cutter Dykstra type.

Drew, you're right that it's not a hobby for Zuckerman. I can only speak for myself, but I (selfishly) just wish his job included fewer days off. I sort of feel like I need an emergency backup beat writer for when CSN won't spring for a ticket.For that matter, I also wish he hadn't been pulled off the Nats beat to write about hockey back in April. Sure, I got to save my buck-fifty this year, but life is about tradeoffs. I have my own thoughts on whether this one was worth it. (And our intrepid blogger doubtless has his own thoughts, I wish him well, he doesn't need to ask me before taking a job, etc., etc., no purchase necessary, void where prohibited.)